Inking mechanism for printing presses



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C. A. KELLOGG INKING MECHANISVM FOR PRTNTING PRESSES F'i led March www@ Apr. l?, ma

' C. A. KELLOGG INKING MECHANISM FOR PRNTING PRESSES Filed March 26 1919 2 Sheets- Shes \NVENTOR br/AW/ayg; BY H l5 AT TO R N Patented Apr. 17, i923.

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il F fr CARL A. KELLOGG, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

INKING MECHANISIVI FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

Application filed March 26 1919.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CARL A. KELLOGG, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn,

county of Kings, and State of New York.

have invented a certain new and useful lnking Mechanism for Printing Presses, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to` printing presses and while not specifically limited in its application, is particularly adapted to printing machines wherein one member` of the printing couple is moved to and from the other to place a form on one member of the couple.

In printing mechanisms `of the general character described and claimed in the copending` applications of John D. Caplinger Serial .Numbers 216,675 and 254:162, wherein the form bed' of the machine is fixed. and the impression member is movable toward and away from the form,I have found that in order to enable the form to be readily inserted or removed from the machine that it must be retracted to a considerable height above the form bed t-o allow of the insertion or removal of the form. In machines of this type, it has been the practice to so construct the operating mechanism of the impression member that said impression member will have a relatively great throw which serves to normally elevate the impression member much in excess ofthe distance required to allow of the passage of the form rollers between the form and impression member when the latter is in elevated position. In a machine of this character, it is well understood that the greater the distance which the impression member is required to travel, the slower the speed of operation will be, and it is therefore at the expense of efficiency of operation that the relatively great throw .must be provided to allow of the insertion or removal of the form at the sides of the machine.

Moreover, in the type of press referred to, the impression member is usually guided for operation in standards or fixed guides associated with t-he sides of the machine adjacent the form bed, and, as these members are usually so positioned as to preclude the insertion of the form in the sides of the ma.- chine, said form must naturally be introduced intol the ends of the machine, either over the ink drumor from the other end of Serial No. 285,338.

the machine. As the forms frequently are quite heavy, the lifting of the form over into place onto the bed is to say the least so arduous a task as to render this procedure heretofore practically impossible, especially where the bed is below the platen and the chains etc. are above the face of the bed.

`With the foregoing in mind, the object of the present invention is to provide a machine in which the throw of the impression member may be minimized by so constructing the parts of the machine that the form may be readily positioned on, or removed from its bed without requiring such excessive head room as heretofore. Moreover an object,tand an important one from a practical standpoint is to provide means whereby a form may be readily inserted in a machine through the employment of a guide table which servesv` not only to support the weight of the form but to guide the same into correct position on the form bed, whereby the lifting of the weighty forms onto the bed, over the chains or inking devices is rendered unnecessary. Further objects of the invention, though not exclusive, are to provide a machine wherein the chains which move the form rollers are positioned below the face of the form bed for the purpose of economizing in head room; a machine wherein the ink drum is stationary and so constructed that the portion thereof, which normally projects above the face of the bed, may be depressed to a position flush with, or below the face of the bed, so as to not interfere with the passage of the form into or out of the machine; a machine wherein the ink drum is movable longitudinally of its axis; a machine wherein the distributor rolls are rotatable circumferentially of the ink drum, for the purpose of better breaking up the ink; a machine constructed in the manner described with a non-rotatable ink drum, so as not to change the speed of the form rollers when they are brought into engagement therewith; a machine wherein the ink drum is of greater diameter at its center than at its ends, whereby the form rollers are caused to contact for their entire length with the ink drum irrespective of the tendency of centrifugal force to throw the center of the rollers outwardly and free from engagement with 'the drum; a machine wherein an ink plate is positioned on the opposite side of the form bed and is extended around the side of the form bed to the very face thereof, so that the form rollers are in contact with said plate until they reach the form, whereby their speed is lmaintained constant; a machine wherein distributor rolls are associated withthe ink drum, and placed diametrically opposite one another to better balance the operation of the distributor rolls, a machine embodying irnproved means for mounting the ink drum form rolleroperating sockets and' distributor rolls to allow of reciprocating movement of the ink drum and rotation of the distributing and form rolls about the drum; and a rcmmfable form table with its supports.

VFeatures of the invention other than those specified will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description taken in conjunction with vthe accompanying drawings.

In t-he accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative only, and not as deininig the limits of the invention.

I but illustrating certain operating parts of the mechanism in different positions;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure-2;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Figure showing details of the ink drum; y

- Figure@ is an end elevation of the showing-of-Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged elevation of one end of the machine illustrating the manner in which the form rollers are supported and carried by the endless chains; and

Figure-8 is a section on line 8-8 of Figure?.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the frame of the machine which is provided with an upstanding portion in which is mounted for rotation the crankshaft b, adapted to carry and operate the platen B, the lower curved face of which constitutes the impression surface. Mounted adjacent one end of the frame, and supported thereby, is a form hed C, adapted to receive the form F (Figure 8). The form bed is rigidly mountedy in the frameand is provided on its opposite ends'with movable plates c, which are slotted at c and screws c2 extend through the slots c and thread into the ends of the form bed. llfhen the screws c2 are loosened, the plates c may be dropped down into the position shown in Figures 4; and 8, to al lov.' ofthe introduction of the form table and the form onto the bed, but, as soon as the form is in place, the plates c may be elevated to close the ends of the form bed and tl e screws c2 tightened to hold the forni in place. i

Extending transversely of the frame are shafts D and E, on A'one of which are mounted sprocket-wheels g,`with which are associated endless sprocket-chains g, with which are operatively associated two sets of form rollers G. The sprockets which are associated with the shaft D co-operate directly therewith, but the sprockets which are associated with the shaftE are not secured to the shaft itself, but are mounted on sleeves gli which are journalled for rotation in the frame A, and through which sleeves the shaft E extends. Secured to each sleeve g2, exteriorly of t-he frame, is a gear g3, driven from another gear gt` (Figure l), and,y

through these driving connections movement is imparted to the endless chains with the result that the form rollers are caused to travel over the form after having been suppliedwithink from an ink drum H, and said ink properly distributed over said form rollers by their passage 'over an ink plate l, positioned below the form bed.

The ink drum H is mounted on shaft E and is preferably in the form of a hollow metallic member, circular in cross section, but, preferably of larger diameter at its center than at its lateral edges, so that said drum may be graphically described as barrel-shaped in contour.` Ink' is supplied to the link drum from an ink fountain J in which is partially submerged a fountain roller y', adapted to be rotated by shaft j', to which is affixed a cam.j2. Associated with the fountain roller y' is a. ductor or messenger roll K, adapted to normally rest against the fountain roller to receive-'ink therefrom. but, shiftable at intervals by the cam jf from the position of Figure el' to the position of Figure 3, for the purpose of applying ink to the ink drum H. j

Associated with the ink `drum H are a plurality of distributing rolls h, carried by arms ir, iixedly secured at ft2 to the sprockets g, as best shown in Figure 2, so that the arms are rotated with the sprockets, and i serve to move the rollers about the face of the ink drum, for the purpose of distributing the ink over the `face thereof. Then the distributing rolls run at a highspeech the action of centrifugal force tends to warpthem outwardly at their centers So that if the drums H were made perfectly cylindrical, the centers of the distributor rolls would not normally engage with the central po-rtion'of the drum, and the distribution of ink on the drum would not be efficiently carried out. However,` as stated,ithe drum is made barrel-shaped to compensate for the action of centrifugal force on the distribution rollers` as well as the action of the same force upon the form rollers, and, accordingly', the

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174521050 gli rollers will engage with the drum throughout their entire length and efficient distribution and feed to the form rollers is assured.

ln order that the distribution of ink over the face of the ink drum may be ythoroughly and completely carried out, the drum H is mounted on the shaft E for longitudinal reciprocating movement while being maintained against rotation. This is accomplislied by extending one end of the shaft E beyond the outside of the frame as at E', and afiixing thereto a rigid hub e, to which is pivotally connected a 4yoke Z (see Figures 2 and Yoke Z has pivotal movement with the hub e, but is so associated with the hub that rotation of the shaft E is precluded. The yoke Z forms part of a vibrator arm L pivoted at Z `and, being provided at its opposite end with a roll Z2 operating in a closed cani slot Zyk formed in a hub Z4, fixed to the shaft y" which carries and operates the fountain roll. As clearly shown in the drawings, this cam slot is symmetrical 'and has a. constant throw and consequently the ink drum will be reciprocated at a constant speed.

i lith this construction, it will be apparent Ythat when the machine is operating the fountain roll is rotating, the Idistributor rolls are rotating about the face of the ink drum, and said ink drum is being longitudinally ieciprocated by the vibrator arm L. This vibrating of the ink drum while the distributor rolls are revolving in engage nient with the surface thereof results in coini plete and proper distribution of the ink over the surfaceof the drum. The drum H is' cao-axial of the sprockets g, and asy a result the form rollers are successively brought into engagement with thel periphery of the drum and receive an ink charge therefrom. After leaving the ink drum, the form rollers are carried along beneath the forni bed and engage with the ink plate I, which serves to properly reep the form rollers turning. The rear end of the ink plate l is extended upward between the sprockets of the vshaft D, as shown at l in Figure 4, to the veryedge of the forni bed, so that the form rollers roll on the ink plate until they come to the foi-in bed and pass immediately to the form after leaving said plate. The extension I is provided with a pivoted portion z" hinged at z', as shown in Figure 7, so that it may swing back in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure il to allow of putting on the form from that end also. The advantage of having the form rolls contact with the ink plate l and its extension for so large a portion of theil1 travel, isv that the rolls will not change speed after leaving said plate so esito engage with the form at a slower speed which would necessarily cause the rollers to jump when they Contact with the form, and cause poor inking.

`forni bed Vto hold the rollers at a proper height above the bed while additional rollers mare associated with the chains' g and engage beneath a track m3 mounted on `the frame, the purpose of which is to hold the rollers to their work. By this construction, the chains run in substantially depressed channels at the edges of the forni bed, and are, in a sense, out of the way, or in a nioie or less concealed position. These curved ends of the guides hold the chains and the forni rollers in their proper posi tions while the direction of their tra-vel is being reversed.

In the insertion orremoval of the form relative to the machine, said form maybe introduced or removed from either end thereof. It is for this reason that the hinged portion z" is` provided in the extension of the ink plate lf. lf the pivoted section e" is moved to the dotted line position of Figure et, it will allow free access to the screws which, when loosened, will allow the locking' plate 0 to drop and permit the table to be placed in position to slide the form longitudinally into the machine and freely from the forni bed. ln positioning the form in the machine, the pivoted section t" is swung` back as shown in Figure 4, and the forni table introduced, and the form slid into place after which the plate c is elevated and the screws c2 tightened to hold the form in place. rhereafter, the section z" may be swung into`the closed full line position of liigure 4; wherein its free end will be supportd by the plate c.

The machine of `this invention provides for the insertion or removal of the form from the opposite end of the machine, an-il, in order that theseoperationsinay be ellic-iently carried out, the ink drum H is preferably formed with a portion H of the sui'- face thereof adjustable so that this portion, which normally extends into the path of movement of the form into and out of the forni bed, may be lowered, when a change of forms is desired, into the position shown in full lines in Figure il. To this end, the portion H has link connections n, (see Figure 5) with a manually operable crank shaft N mounted' for rotation in thel opposite ends of the drum and provided at one end with an operating handle n', which may be locked in. either of its extreme positions by a pin n2 adapted to engage with apertures n3 in the end of the drum. As the handle 'n' is oper` ated to rotate the crank shaft N, the poi'- tion H of the drum is raised or lowered lil() lll) of the arm n', and said poi'tion H is guided..

in' its movement by guides n* formed on `the innei' surface thereot, and engaging withy rods n which extend longitudinally through the interior oit the di'um.

In the normal operation of the machine, the portion I-l is `elevated to complete the periphery ot' the drum, but when it is de sired to insert or remove a lorm, the handle n is manipulated to depress the portion H into the position shown in Figure e, to allow of the positioning in the machine of a table O which may be supported at one end on one of the plates c, and at its other end, on the rod o. rlhe table 0 is best shown in Figures l and 8 and is provided at Vits lateral edges with upstanding' flanges so 'that a li'orin may be placed on the table andpushed longitudinally thereot` directly on to the io'rm bed. A table the full width ot the machine Vmay be provided, but l preferablyY use a table but the width ot one form, and through the 'employment of a table of the appropriate width the form may be readily guided into oi' out oi' the machine. It will be understood, that-the `table is `employed only` at the time of insertion or removal ot' the loi'm, and that at other times is removed from the machine to allow of proper oper' tion o't the distributor rolls and the torni rollers Gr.

`The machine thus provides means whereby a forni may be 'introduced into or rei moved from the bed from either end of the machine, and` while it is possible to introduce the torni trom the drum vend oi" themachine without making the drum collapsibleas described, as byhaving` but a part of acylindei', for making' a fiat side on vthe drum and revolving` the drum to bring' the iilat side up to allow the table to be put in place, it is preferable that the collapsible construction be employed as shown and de scribed..` However, the di'um mayhave a hinge part operating' after the manner ol a hing-e t" ot the ink plate, orsaid drum may have a portion ot its surface `removable so that said portion may be lifted out of machine to allow ofthe table being brought into position.

rlhe provision ot the table Q is an important one from a practical standpoint asy it allows the form to be laid on the outer end of the table and then slid along the table vonto the form bed, the table servingr to guide the form overthe inkinp,` devices into correct` position.v rilhere has heretofore never been any provision. made` in a machine `oiI this character wherein the platen is above the bed, to readily place theforms on and rei move them from the bed., It is within the invention to use the table resting' on the ink di'um or the upturned end of the ink plate, but this would cause the form when slid to or yfrom the tableto bridge as the tace of the against rotation.

table would not be Hush and' in line with the face of the bed. It is also within the'scope of the invention to remove either the hinged part of the ink plate or the movable part ot' the inl; drum. A

Having thus i'ully described the invention,` what l claim as new, and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent is: t

l. ln aj prii'i'ting press, a form bed, in combiiiation with inking mechanism embodying an inl( sup-ply, an inliing surface separate trom andindependent of the lorm bed, a distributor roller cooperating with said sur! tace, means for 'rotating said distributor rollerto traverse said siiirtace while in eninigeinent tliei'ewitli', and a ductoi" roller movable between the iiilsupply and the inkinp; surface. 1

2. ln a printing; press, a lorin bed, in combination with in'king` mechanism enibodying an inking` surface, a non-rotatable shaft supporting,` said surface, a plurality ot sprocket chains, a vform roller carried and supported `by the sprocket chains, sprockets,cooperating' with said chains and mounted tor rotation co-axially koit said shaft, and means for rotati`- said sprockets.`

Il. 'l.)i'intingj press" hiking; mechanism ein bod'viiig an inlinp; surface, a non-rotatable shaft supporting said'siirlace, torni roller .supporting and operating sprockets mounted toi' rotation co-asially` o'f said shaft, and means for rotating said sprockets.

4;. lrrintingr press inking mechanism embodyiiig, an inkin'gsuriiace, a non-rotatable shalt supporting said surface, a forni roller v supporting and operating' sprocket mounted t'or rotation co-axially of saidshat't, means llor rotating` said sprocket, and means ttor reciprocating; the inkv surface while it is held Printing' press inltinmechanism einbodyiug,y sliait, an iiil surface supported by suchsl'iatt.- a sleeve cia-axial 'with said sh'ait't and supporting; the same, and means mounted on the sleeve tor operating' a torni` roller while'the shaft is maintained against. rotation. i

(i. Printing press inlting mechanism em bodying` an init drum, an 4ink supply, plurality ot distributor rollers, means for rotating' said rollers around the surface et the inl drum whilev in engagement therewitl'n and a diictor roller operable to supply inl; to the ink surface` from the ink supply once for a plurality ot complete rotations of said distributor rollers about theink drinn.

'i'. il"i'in"tiiig` press inling` mechanism einbodying an inl; supply, a substantially cylindrical ink drum'ot greater diameter at its center than at its ends, adistributor roller, and means torrotatingjV the distributor vroller around 'the axis of the drum while lim llU

8. Printing press inking mechanism embodying an ink supply, a substantially cylindrical ink drum of greater diameter at its center' than at its ends, a distributor roller, and means for gyrating the distributor roller around the axis of the drum while said drum is maintained against rotation.

9. Printing press inlring mechanism embodying an ink supply, a substantially cylindrical ink drum of greater' diameterat its center than at its ends, a distributor roller, and means for gyrating the distributor roller around the axis of the drum while said drum is maintained against rotation, in combination with means for simultaneously imparting axial reciprocation to said drum.

10. An inlr drum, for printing presses provided with a larger diameter at its center than at its ends, for the purpose of compensating for the action of centrifugal force on rollers adapted to co-operate with said drum.

11. An ink drum for printing presses which is crowned to render the diameter at its center greater than the diameter at its ends for the purpose of compensating` for the action of centrifugal force on rollers adapted to cooperate with said drum.

12. Printing press inking mechanism embodying a form bed, an inlr drum, a portion of which normally projects above the plane of the form bed, and means for retracting the projecting portion to position below the plane of the form bed.

13. Printing press inking mechanism embodying a form bed, and an ink drum separate and independent of the form bed and so formed that all parts thereof will be below the plane of the form bed during the positioning of a form in the machine.

14. In a printing press, a form bed, and inlring mechanism embodying an ink drum so formed that all the parts thereof will be below the plane of the form bed during the positioning of a form in the machine. and a table for guiding the form over the ink roller and on to the form bed.

15. In a printing press, a form bed, and inlring mechanism embodyingan ink drum, a portion of which normally projects above the plane of the form bed, and means for retracting the projecting portion of the ink drum to a position below the plane of the form bed, to allow of the positioning of a table in the machine for the purpose of guiding a form into place upon the bed.

16. Printing press inking mechanism embodying a form bed, an ink drum of greater diameter at its center than at its ends, and so positioned, that a portion of said drum normally projects above the plane of the form bed, and means for retracting the project-.ing portion to a position below said plane.

17. Printing press inling mechanism embodying a form bed, and aninlring surface, a portion of which projects above the plane of the form bed, said projecting portion being hinged for pivotal movement to a position below the planeof the form bed.

1S. Printing press inlring mechanism embodying a form bed, and an inlring surface, a portion of which projects above the plane of the form bed, said projecting portion being movable from its projecting position to a position out of the path of a form int-roduced onto the form bed in the horizontal plane of said form bed.

19. Printing press inlring mechanism embodying a plurality of ink surfaces, a distributor roller, a form roller, means for rotating the distributor yroller over one of said surfaces, and means for moving the form roller over all of said surfaces.

20. Printing press inlring mechanimn embodying a plurality of ink surfaces, a distributor roller, a form roller, means for rotating the distributor roller over one of said surfaces, and means for moving the form roller over all of said surfaces, in combination with means for reciprocating the ink surface, over which the distributor roller rotates, in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said roller.

21. Printing press inlring mechanism embodying. an endless chain, .a form roller carried by said chain, a stationary form bed, a movable inking surface, rollers and guides cooperating with the chain for substantially the entire length thereof to hold the chain to a predetermined path and cause the form roller to traverse the form and inking surface, and means for reciprocating the inking surface. i

22. Printing` press inking mechanism embodying a curved inlring surface, distributor rollers positioned diametrically opposite one another, means for gyrating said rollers about said ink surface while said surface is maintained stationary with respect to the direction of rotation of the distributor rollers, and means for simultaneously reciprocating said surface back and forth at a constant speed in a direction parallel to the aXis of rotation of the distributor rollers.

23. Printing press inking mechanism embodying an inl; drum, and a plurality of distributor rollers mounted for gyration about the axis of the drum, said drum being of greater diameter at its center than at its ends, whereby the rollers are caused to engage throughout their entire lengths with said drum irrespective of the action of centrifugal force.

24. Printing press inking mechanism enibodying a crowned curved ink surface, and a distributor roller of uniform diamter associated with said surface.

25. Printing press inlring mechanism enibodying an endless chain movable continuously in one direction, a torni roller carried by said chain7 a forni bed, anuinkingsurtace mounted yindeoendentlv of the form bed, rollers and guides cooperating' with the Chain tor the greater portion ot its length uously moving the chain; in the saine direction, a torni bed, an inling siirt'aee positioned at a distance from Athe* bed, a-torm roller carried by the chain, means for giiiding the chain vtln'oug ;hou't substantially its fentire extent, whereby the 'form roller is held to a predetermined travel to cooperate Wit-h the forin bed and inking surface, means for reciprocating the inling surface in a direction transversely of the path ot travel ot the eha inA l y 27. A printing press embodying a forni bed, and atorrn table llush with the face of the bed andadapted to be supported by the press to facilitate the positioning or removing ot a form to or. troni the bed.

28. A 'printing 'press embodying a form bed, and a form table substantially -flush With the :tace ot the bed and at least one end said tablebeing adapted to b e supported by the press lto facilitate `the positioning or removing ot a form to or' from the bed.

In testimony whereof, I have' signed my name to this specification.

CARL a KnLLoGG. 

